Description

In many parts of California, the rate and progression of land use change in the hardwood rangeland depend upon the decisions of ranchers. As major landowners in these regions, a rancher’s decision to subdivide or sell for development are significant moves toward land use change. In many instances, a single landowner decision may effect the disposition of thousands of acres of hardwood rangeland. This study seeks to identify factors that contribute to the sales or subdivisions of ranches in two rapidly developing counties in the Central Sierra Nevada: El Dorado and Amador. Area ranchers were surveyed through personal interviews and questionnaires in an effort to identify and examine factors creating difficulties for ranch operations. Instability factors identified by other land use change researchers were also explored.